We
find in the Mobile Tribune of
the 4th communication from one of the Fort Gaines prisoners in this
city, who defends his commander, Col. Anderson–who he says fought with
conspicuous gallantry at Shiloh–for his course. In getting out news we
mutilated it very much, and can therefore give only a synopsis of what
is left.

In
answer to extracts from Mobile papers reflecting on the garrison, the
writer says:

The
first extract states that the surrender of Fort Gaines was a shameful
affair, and in opposition to the orders of Gen. Page.Both statements are untrue, and the paper which published them
was doubtless misled by some ignorant or designing person. Col.
Anderson's orders were to do the best he could, and in
surrendering Fort Gaines he did it the best he could.The fort was not in a condition to be defended.After the fleet had passed into the Bay every one of the ditches
could have been enfiladed, and the loss of life would have been fearful.In one hour from the time that we surrendered we would have been
exposed to the most terrific fire ever concentrated on one place from
the front, from the rear and on both flanks.The fort was a mere shell, and the protection afforded the men on
the inside, even could one-half of them have crowded into the miserable
excuse for a covering which it afforded, they would have been
slaughtered like sheep.The
bomb proofs (so-called) were no protection, for a 10-inch shell would
have gone through either of them, and the opening on both sides was
perfectly exposed to the enemy's fire, so that shot or shell from either
portion of the fleet would have gone into them, carrying death and
destruction to the crowded occupants.The casemates were, if anything, worse.Our hospital was established in the one considered by all the
safest, and selected on that account.On the evening before we surrendered, one of the enemy's monitors
came almost to the end of the wharf and fired upon us, and the very
first shot she fired penetrated the casemate and killed two of our sick.The magazines were no better, and had a single shell struck them,
or either of them, the whole garrison would have been blown to kingdom
come.That there was the
utmost danger of this, I have only to mention to convince you that the
bastions where the magazines were protruded eight or ten feet above the
sand banks of the glacis, and offered a fair and prominent mark to the
guns of vessels so near us.It
is wonderful to me that they were not struck and penetrated by some of
the enemy's shot.Beside
this, in the citadel of the fort were situated the officers' quarters,
the commissary and quartermaster's storehouses, the guard house and
several kitchens, all frail shells.The commissary storehouse was filled with flour barrels, bacon
and other combustible material, which would have burned like tender; and
had the whole fleet opened upon us, as was their design, in less than
half an hour there would have been a conflagration which would have
forced the garrison to flee for their lives.Remember, too, that, besides all this, there was not sufficient
covering, frail and insufficient as it was, to protect one-half the
command.Fort Gaines was
utterly untenable, and Col. Anderson would have been the criminal to
have held out and caused such needless and useless loss of human life as
must have ensued had he held on even two hours longer.There was nothing we could have accomplished by holding out.We could render Mobile no assistance; we could render Morgan no
assistance; and we could have done no harm or injury to the enemy, for
every gun we had that bore upon the fleet was dismounted, except the
small smooth bore, at which they would have laughed in derision.->

Fort
Gaines was utterly untenable.Such
has been the opinion of all competent engineers who have visited it. It
is a well known fact that every chief engineer of the department, and
the most of his assistants, as well as every commanding officer of the
brigade (Col. Powell, Gen. Higgins, and gen. Page,) have pronounced the
outer line of defenses untenable, and recommended their abandonment.As for Fort Gaines, the gallant Gen. Gardner, who is himself a
prisoner now, was sent by Gen. Bragg to occupy the place when he was a
colonel, and instructed to put it in proper condition for defense.He was instructed to ask for whatever he might deem necessary for
such a purpose.Upon
his return to headquarters he asked for a steamboat.The General, with much a surprise, asked him what he wanted with
a steamboat. "To move my command from Fort Gaines to prevent its
capture," was the prompt reply of the gallant Colonel.The truth is, Fort Gaines was in a worst condition of the day it
was surrendered than it was when Gen. Gardner inspected it.Whose fault was this, sir?Certainly
not Col. Anderson's, for to my certain knowledge he has repeatedly
called upon the engineer core to strengthen its defences, and they
doubtless would have complied had they been in possession of the means,
but their force was taken away from them, and left them powerless to do
anything. Since Col. Anderson was in possession of Gaines, not a
particle of work has been done there towards perfecting its defenses,
and the only work attempted was the construction of a wharf, on which
they were compelled to suspend work for the want of hands, and it is
still incomplete. Col. A. has called time and again for additional and
more effective guns for the fort, and even now has copies of
communications to the authorities urging this point.But, no; Fort Gaines was left in an indefensible condition,
without the slightest expectation on the part of the authorities that a
serious demonstration would be made against it--and the consequence is,
it has fallen; and since the misfortune has occurred, the blame is
thrust upon a brave and honorable man to screen from public view the
culpable neglect of those higher in authority.The command here at least know the truth, and should they ever
get home, it will be made known to the people. While Forts Powell and
Morgan were the fields of all the labor on the outer defences, Gaines
was left to its fate.With
no covering for its garrison, no safety for its magazines, with nothing
in or about it to screen its inmates from the iron hail of death which
was showered upon it, the grog shop here thinks it should have been held
to the last a brick.Why,
Fort Powell, which was infinitely stronger and commanded by as brave and
gallant a gentleman as ever drew a sword, succumbed long before Gaines
did, and was not subjected to half such an ordeal as was the latter.The only difference is, that communication with the main land was
not cut off, and Col., Williams saved his garrison, while we,
unfortunately, were cut off and had to succumb to the fortunes of war.

A
little reflection and investigation is all you want to convince you that
Col. Anderson obeyed his orders to the letter by doing the best he
could.

MONDAYSEPTEMBER 12,
1864THE CHARLESTON MERCURY (SC)

Fort
Pillow Report and the Black Flag.

The
Richmond Sentinel has put
forth an excellent review of great length of the report of the Committee
of the United States Congress appointed to investigate the Fort Pillow
affair. The report is, of course, full of horrors and full of lies. The Sentinel concludes its article as follows:

We
have yet to consider this matter, however, in its most discreditable
light. Bad as it is it to thus trifle with the sacred obligations of
truth, we do not begin to comprehend the wickedness of this
Congressional publication until we contemplate the practical results it
was designed to produce.What
those results were intended to be, subsequent events have very clearly
developed.A correspondence
between Gen. Washburne, of the United States army, commanding at
Memphis, and Gens. S. D. Lee and Forrest, now for the first time
published, manifests very clearly the purpose for which all that clamor
about Fort Pillow has been raised.

The
Northern people have never understood the social institutions of the
South.They cannot be made
to comprehend, though this war has taught some salutary lessons, the
relation of which subsists among us between master and slave.Their fancy has always been that we were slumbering above a
volcano whose surging flames only needed an outlet to burst over our
land with desolating fury.They
had been taught to believe that the slave population was always ready to
revolt at the slightest indication of a reasonable prospect of success,
and in such event our only hope was in the strong arm of the Federal
Government.It was this idea
which occasioned such universal incredulity among them of our voluntary
secession from the Union, and inspired this very Mr. B. F. Wade, of the
congressional Sub-Committee, to assure the people of Brooklyn, the night
before Mr. Lincoln's election, that the South could not be kicked into
disunion.In speculating
upon the result of the war, it was universally agreed among them, at the
outset, that if the occasion required, their triumph could at any time
be secured by threatening an appeal to the Negro as their ally.They claim before themselves an infinite deal of credit for
refusing to ask such alliance at once.As the war progressed and the prospect of its indefinite
continuance began to be realized, they turned with eager hope to this
resource to ensure its speedy close.

Mr.
Lincoln issued his preliminary proclamation announcing that he would, at
the expiration of about ninety days, offer the boon of freedom to the
entire slave population–unless in the mean time we grounded our arms.The threat, it was presumed, would be enough; but it failed.Then came the proclamation; but it was brutum
fulmen.1It declared the Negro a
freeman and pledged what had practically been long conceded to him, the
protection of the United States authorities, if he could affect his
escape into their military lines, but offered no inducement to him to
fight.It rather elevated
him up on a pedestal higher than the white man; for while the white man
of the United States was liable to draft and compulsory service in the
army–which was pledged to fight for his freedom–he himself enjoy
immunity from military duty.Nor
did he manifest any disposition to render any voluntary service in the
war upon his master.He was
abundantly content to enjoy his lazy liberty, and in few, if indeed in
any instance, did the fugitive who had found a safe retreat in the camp
of the enemy return with the assistance of that enemy to wreak vengeance
for past wrongs, which his new associates taught him to believe had been
visited upon him.This fact,
in itself a vindication triumphant as we could desire of the humanity of
our dealings with this unfortunate race, staggered the faith of
Abolitionism in its theory.Something
of compulsion was found to be necessary to enforce the effectual
cooperation of the Negro.Then
came the idea of flattering his vanity by his elevation to the dignity
of a Federal soldier.At
first it was an honor to be sought, a favor to be conceded; but soon,
very soon, it became a service, a duty, and onerous duty, to be exacted
under the influence of persuasion and threat, of money and force, of
liquor and lying, they at last succeeded in enrolling in the ranks of
their army an imposing number.The
next problem was to make and fight.You may lead a horse to the river, but you cannot force and
drink, and a similar difficulty seemed to have crossed the path of the
Yankee.

While
the Negro soldiers were few in number they were found useful to garrison
far away points, where the presence of an enemy was little to be
apprehended.When they
increased in number they were serviceable to some extent as a movable
breastwork, impelled on the point of bayonets in the rear.But as the number of white soldiers diminished, and the
difficulty to supply the waste of war increased, some expedient to make
the Negro more available was imperatively demanded.It was easy enough, if he could be made efficient as a soldier,
to enforce him or seduce him into the ranks.No longer protected from oppression and fraud by the intelligence
and influence of his master, he was an easy victim for the recruiting
officer or the substitute agent.

The
brilliant idea suggested itself.The
philosopher's stone was discovered!It can been always said that a rat, if cornered, would
fight–ergo, a Negro, if inspired with the idea that there was no hope
of mercy in his submission, or escape in his flight, would make a fine
soldier.The only requisite,
therefore, was to create this impression.It must be made desperate by the idea that over him the black
flag was always flying.Teach
him that no quarter has been shown to his color in the past, that none
is to be hoped for in the future, paint before his imagination in vivid
colors the horrors of some battle field, where men of his race, in vain
hope of mercy, had grounded their arms or sought safety in flight, hand
as his eyes open wide and his lips protrude in terror and amazement, let
his ears drink in the recital of the scenes of faithlessness and
bloodshed with which the infuriated Southerners illustrated that dark
and bloody ground.->

Teach
him his lesson well–let him hear the same story iterated and
reiterated from all the whites around him. The Negro is almost as
sensational as the Yankee–create a sensation. He has strong religious
sensibilities and weal religious intelligence–instill into him, as a
matter of religious obligation, the duty of avenging his slaughtered
brethren.He is very
impressible by parade and ceremony–marshal in column, and impress a
sacred oath to remember and be avenged. It will make him a useful
soldier and a terrific scourge. The sentiment of desperation will
occasion prodigies of valor on the field of battle. The sentiment of
vengeance will occasion prodigies of crime in the undefended homesteads
of the South. It matters not if age and infancy, if maid and matron,
fall before his wrath–if female purity be made to pander to his lust.
What of it? His victims will be among the mothers and wives, the sisters
and daughters, the decrepit parents and the infant children of the rebel
soldiery. It will be a fire in their rear, more terrible in its
anticipations, more intolerable in its realization, than the fiercest
blaze of battle in their front.

It
may, it must, produce a frenzied feeling of hate between the races,
tempting the whites of the South to lay heavier burdens and impose more
cruel weights upon the slaves under their control, until they, too,
shall be provoked to rise against their oppressors. And who shall say
that this may not be the appointed means for the liberation of the
slaves and the re-establishment of the Union, cleansed by a purification
of fire from the sin of slavery.

Thus
reasons abolitionism, and abolitionism reigns at Washington and in the
Federal armies. Well it knows the precedent of San Domingo. It has
paraded it in speech and song, in sermon and lecture, in the press and
from the stump, until every minute detail of its infernal horrors are
familiar as household words. Yet each and every of them all, it
cherishes the hope, are in reserve for us and ours.

This
is the now accepted theory for the development of the slumbering
energies of the Negro, and these the practical results, for the
furtherance of which this Congressional work of fraud ad falsehood has
been undertaken.

We
have already quoted from the Congressional report the evidence of
General Hurlbut, to the effect that his Negro troops had sworn to give
no quarter, and the endorsement of their action by himself and the
committee. General Washburne, his successor, admits that he knew of this
oath, and knowing of it, had twice sent them out without instructions to
regard the rules of civilized war. He disclaims the responsibility of
having instructed them to show no quarter; declares that he will, if
assurances are not given that they will not, on capture, be remanded to
the custody of the masters from whom they had escaped. Such assurances
never will be given. He practically admits that their purpose, sworn in
Memphis, was repeated on the march, and that they entered into the
battle of Tishomingo Creek with that resolve. Had they succeeded, who
can imagine the scenes of bold and death? But “man proposes and God
disposes.”

Perhaps
the intimation of Generals Lee and Forrest, that if such a policy is
persisted in, it will be uniform on our part towards black and white,
may arrest the progress of events. If not, we have done all that it
becomes an honorable and Christian people to do to avert the fearful
issue; and with a reliance unwavering in the protection of a just and
beneficent Deity, we can only say let it come. As a matter of mere
policy it has been always very questionable whether the black flag would
not secure us our independence much more speedily and at much less cost
of valuable life. It cannot be much worse for our people than the
existing state of things. The disclosure of the fell purposes of the
enemy, revealed in the progress of General Sturgess until checked by
disastrous defeat, will abundantly reconcile our people to the stern
necessity, if it be forced upon us.

•••••

Important
to Salt Purchasers.–We
are authentically informed that there are no less than twenty three salt
manufacturers in Charleston and vicinity, within the conscript age, who
are detailed to make salt on the special condition that they would sell
the article to consumers at the works at nine dollars a bushel, or
delivered at any of the railroad depots in good shipping order, at
twelve dollars. Now, the question arises, with these twenty three salt
boilers bound to these conditions, how is it that salt is to-day from
twenty to twenty five dollars a bushel in our market? The question is
easily solved, but we do not propose to do it just now. We would,
however, say to our farmers, planters and country customers generally,
that if they club together for any particular District, and appoint a
responsible agent here, they can have their salt at the prices to which
the salt boilers have bound themselves to supply consumers, else the
boiler refusing to supply at these prices will not have his detail
renewed. We may advert to this matter again, and furnish the names of
the salt boilers so detailed.

The
rebel prisoners at Elmira, N. Y., cheered lustily when they heard that
McClellan had been nominated at Chicago.

Hundreds
of females in men’s’ attire are working in the British coal mines,
and the morals of both sexes suffer in consequence.

A
retired sportsman in Paris has opened a store for the sale of dead game
to the French cockneys who go out to shoot but can hit nothing.

The
superintendent of the New York home for street boys took forty-five of
the boys that have been cared for there to Minnesota last week to secure
them homes among the farmers there.

Philip
Tiernan of Cincinnati and Dudley Kavanagh of New York, the famous
billiard players, will play for the champion cue of the United States
and $1000 at New York on the 15th. No betting will be allowed, and
ladies are expected to attend.

A
substitute at Lockport, N. Y., was shot dead by the guard the other day,
while attempting to pass without permission. He made several attempts to
apply chloroform to the guard’s face but failed, and then tried to
rush out and was shot.

A
very ingenious attempt was lately made to blow up a government warehouse
at St. Louis, which contained $1,000,000 worth of government property,
but the watchman heard the explosion, and the flames were soon
extinguished. The machine was a common valise, in the bottom of which
was a marine clock. There were no hands on the clock, but an iron lever
was ingeniously fixed on instead of hands, and tied to this was a thread
attached to the hair-spring of a gun-lock, this communicating with a
fuse or secured train of powder, the latter connecting with two bottles,
one of powder, and the other containing turpentine. The thread was made
of sufficient length to permit the clock to run to a fixed hour, when
the gradual turning of the lever, moved by the running of the clock,
pulled the trigger and fired the lock, which burst the cap that set off
the fuse, that exploded the powder, that fired the turpentine and
scattered conflagration around generally.

A
letter from Nebraska, describing the Indian war, says: “At Pawnee
Ranch, seventeen men and one woman and child were slaughtered, and many
houses were burned. It looked more like the work of guerrillas than that
of Indians. The chief of the band was killed. Joseph Marcum, a brave
fellow,, was at Liberty Farms, just in from Idaho; he saw buildings
burning, and went out to scout. The Sioux, some forty in number, saw
him, and sent out three of their party to cut him off. When he saw them
they were close upon him. He ran the gantlet, discharging his revolver,
and lying on the side of his horse when they fired at him. His arm was
exposed by holding on to the horn of his saddle, and he received a rifle
ball through it above his elbow, but escaped. The Indian who shot him
was killed. One man was pierced with thirty arrows while at work in his
field.”

Though
deserters from the rebel armies will not be received into our armies as
substitutes, it is understood that another regiment is being organized
from this material for post and guard duty in the West.

By
order of the secretary of war, all sick and wounded soldiers will be
discharged upon the expiration of their terms of service, but will be
entitled to medical treatment in hospitals and the usual rations so long
as it may be considered proper for them to remain under hospital
treatment.

•••••

The
personal popularity of Gen. McClellan with the soldiers–the chief
inducement which led the democrats, months ago, to fix upon him as their
“coming man”–is likely to avail them very little in the end.
McClellan was unquestionably popular with the old army of the Potomac
which he commanded; but comparatively few of that army now remain, and
with the majority has gone the vaunted “devotion for the hero of
Antietam.” The whole course of the party, especially their persistent
opposition to soldiers’ voting, has taught the soldiers that the
democrats as a mass are not overly friendly to them, notwithstanding
their mawkish assertion to the contrary in the Chicago platform. There
is no doubt that an immense majority of the soldiers’ votes cast at
the presidential election, as well as the large number of others which
they will influence, will be given for Mr. Lincoln.

•••••

It
was stated, some days ago, that a commissioner from Georgia had arrived
at Washington to negotiate for the return of that state to the Union. We
have reason to believe that there is truth in the report, and that the
commissioner is authorized to speak for Gov. Brown, Vice President
Stephens and Mr. Toombs, and that they propose to bring Georgia back
into the Union on the basis of gradual emancipation. Georgia has always
been uneasy and complaining under confederate rule; she is now just
beginning to feel the cost of the war, and to dread still greater
immediate cost, for her planters are rich in accumulated stores of
cotton, which are exposed to seizure by our troops. Besides, she can now
secede from the confederacy and return to the Union without danger, Gen.
Sherman with his hundred thousand and more Union soldiers standing ready
to defend her in the rightful exercise of her “state sovereignty.”
How soon we shall see so auspicious an event it is impossible to tell,
but it must come at no distant day.

•••••

Advertisement

Lufkin’s
Mirror Photograph Galleryis the place where you can see yourself “square in the face”
while having your picture taken, and be sure of getting a tip-top one
every time, for you can see whether you are looking “sweet” or
“sour.”

Of
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Go to his rooms and take a look in it.
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His rooms you will find up only one flight.

WEDNESDAYSEPTEMBER 14, 1864THE
HARTFORD DAILY COURANT (CT)

From
the 10th Connecticut.

Picket
Trenches before Petersburg, Va.
September 8th, 1864.

Dear
Courant–My last letter to you from the regiment was written on
the field after the battle of White’s Tavern, on the north bank of the
James. We had then been three days fighting and marching, and had other
hard work in immediate anticipation.

On
Thursday, the 18th ult., the day after my letter to you, we were
attacked in our strong position, and had the satisfaction of seeing the
enemy commit the folly of assaulting earthworks and retire defeated. Our
boys really enjoyed the fight. They had been so often called to attack
the rebels in their chosen position, that they found a deal of
satisfaction in awaiting and repelling an assault in a secure
entrenchment. Three men of our regiment, privates Ringrose, Lloyd and
Barrett, of Co. I, were slightly wounded, but not by the rebels. One of
our own batteries in the rea threw its shell directly into our line–as
had often been the case before–and injured these men, besides killing
and wounding a number in regiments near us.

During
the night following this engagement, our entire army withdrew from its
advanced position, arrangements having been already made for that
purpose. As usual, the Tenth Connecticut was the last regiment to leave
the works, covering the rear of two army corps, and establishing a new
picket line when another halt was made. Once more–on the night of
Saturday, the 20th ult.–the army withdrew to a new position, and once
more the Tenth Connecticut covered the rear. Both corps recrossed the
James. When all had passed over but our hard-worked regiment, our
pickets were drawn in, in the gray of the early Sabbath morning, and
then we also retired over the pontoon bridge, which was removed so soon
as we had crossed it. Passing down Jones’ Neck to beyond Four Mile
Creek, we again crossed the river on the pontoon which led to General
Foster’s entrenched position, and were once more in the camp we had
left the week before.

It
was with a pleasant home feeling that we re-entered our old tents, and
even the accustomed picket and fatigue work seemed like rest or
recreation to our jaded, over-fought solders, after their toilsome and
bloody seven days campaign abroad. The very Johnnies at our front showed
familiar faces and were almost as comrades instead of foes. They
apparently had much the same feeling toward our boys. They greeted them
cordially across the lines, giving them welcome back to the often
contested ground. “We’s glad you’uns is back agin,” they said.
“Now things will go reg’lar. Them tother fellers,” (the colored
troops who had occupied in our absence,) “shoot all the time. When
you’uns fight you fight, and when you don’t you don’t.”

Our
home feeling was not of long continuance. On Wednesday, the 24th ult.,
we received orders for achange
of camp. On the evening of the 26th we commenced our march, crossed the
James, passed over the entire Bermuda Hundred front to the Appomattox,
over the pontoon there, and up to the Petersburg line. On Saturday, the
27th, we found ourselves under the artillery fire of the enemy at the
right of the entrance to the famous mine. The Morris Island experience
of our regiment gave confidence to the boys, so that they had little
anxiety as to the flying shot or bursting shell. Private John Fitch, of
Co. H, acting orderly for our brigade commander, was struck and severely
wounded by a fragment of a shell while standing by Colonels Plaisted and
Otis, they narrowly escaping injury.

On
Sabbath evening, 28th ult., we were again moved, marched during the
entire night, and having a place assigned us at daylight in the advanced
trenches, with a portion of our regiment in the picket pits at the left
of Cemetery Hill, where is the crater of the exploded battery. This
position we occupied for two days. We were frequently shelled, and the
enemy’s musketry fire at the right of our line was almost incessant
day and night, yet we had but one man injured in all the time, and he
not severely wounded. Our boys were soon on very sociable terms with the
Johnnies. Papers were exchanged, and so were various articles of
rations. Some deserters came in and gave themselves up. So far as we
were concerned, all of would gladly have remained in the trenches
without asking to go to the rear during the remainder of the campaign.
But on Wednesday, the 31st ult., we were relieved by the 11th Maine, and
retired a half mile or so to a new camping ground.

We
found our place at the rear more dangerous than that at the front. We
were within shelling range of the enemy’s batteries, and the bullets
of sharpshooters along their front passed through or struck in our camp
with annoying frequency. One of our men was wounded before we had our
tents pitched. At night two more were bit while quietly asleep. Yet two
others were wounded on the day following, several of these receiving
severe injuries. On Friday we were again off to the trenches for a three
days’ tour. There, as before, we deemed ourselves comparatively safe,
and dreaded a return to the rear. On Monday morning we were once more in
our tents. On Tuesday one of our men was killed while on fatigue work
not far from camp. And thus we live or die at Petersburg.

The
rule now is, one day on picket, two days in the trenches, one day in
camp, one day on fatigue. This gives us one day in five for rest, but
that in a place of considerable peril. It is not pleasant to feel never
safe. Bullets are whistling past us during most of the time. Rebel
shells explode above us or tear up the ground in our camp on their
bounding way at any time when the enemy chooses to open fire. When we
lie down at night it is with the understanding that we may be shot
before we rise. Passing from one tent to another at any hour of daylight
is a move of danger. We expect some to be killed or wounded in our camp,
or in camps nearest us, with each passing day, and we are aware that our
turn ma come next. Ye our camp is not a gloomy place. Our men do not
growl. They are not discouraged. They are by no means disposed to seek
peace unless by the rebel abandonment of rebellion. They wish the war
was fairly over. They wish their Connecticut fellows would come to help
fight it through. But in any event they trust in God and do their duty
regardless of consequences.

•••••

Recognition
of Rebeldom if McClellan is Elected.

We
have it from a reliable source that arrangements have already been made
between Belmont, on the part of McClellan, the “young Napoleon,” and
the Rothschilds, on the part of Napoleon III of France, that in the
event if the election of McClellan, a “cessation of hostilities”
will take place and France will recognize the Confederacy, the argument
being that the defeat of Mr. Lincoln would be a defeat of the war party
of the country, and a declaration to the world that the South should be
an independent nation. To this end the understanding is that Napoleon
III, through the Rothschilds, will furnish the means to carry on the
McClellan campaign.–Washington
Republican.

THURSDAYSEPTEMBER 15,
1864THE
PITTSFIELD SUN (MA)

Why
Indians Respect Telegraphs.—Notwithstanding the Indian
outbreak, the overland telegraph line, which runs right through the
scene of trouble, remains uncut. A dispatch from Denver City, dated the
18th, alluding to this fact, infers from it that the Indians are not led
by white men. The inference is correct, and will be borne out by all the
facts of the case, we doubt not, when they become known. The first move
of the rebels or other white man (if such they were) instigating the
atrocities of the Indians or co-operating with them, would be to clip
the telegraph wires. A single break in the line would throw the U.
States troops off their scent, prevent their concentration and effective
action, and give the savages a longer lease of pillage and murder. The
Indians know that the telegraph “talks;” that it is the mysterious
servitor of the white man; and they must be aware that it reports their
numbers and deeds of blood to military posts hundreds of miles away, and
that its voice is calling for swift punishment upon them. All this they
must know, for the builders and superintendents of the line have always
impressed upon the Indians the belief that the telegraph tells
everything that is going on. The Indians do not touch the line, because
they have a superstitious dread of its unknown power. The origin of
their mingled reverence and fear of the telegraph is stated to us as
follows, by a gentleman who knows the facts:

When
Mr. Creighton was constructing the overland line, he met with no serious
opposition from the Indians, though it was expected that at any moment
they would wantonly cut the poles of tear down the wires. He determined
to make a striking appeal to that superstitious element which makes up
nine-tenths of the aboriginal character. When the line was completed
between Forts Kearney and Laramie–about 500 miles apart–he contrived
upon the same day to have the chief of the Arapahoes present at Fort
Kearney Station, and the chief of the Sioux at Fort Laramie. These
tribes were among the most powerful on the plains, and the chiefs well
acquainted with each other, and on the best terms of friendship. An
exchange of signals between the operators a the two stations showed that
each had a chief at his elbow. R. Creighton who was at Fort Kearney,
then asked the Arapaho chief if he would like to talk with his friend of
the Sioux at ort Laramie. The Indian smiled grimly at the
superintendent, taking the question as a joke. Finally the
superintendent succeeded in convincing the chief that the proposition
was a serious one, and that his Sioux ally was at that moment anxiously
waiting to hear from him. Arapaho, after many doubts and misgivings, put
a question. Sioux answered. The conversation, once begun, flew fast
enough back and forth between these old companions in arms. Both the
chiefs were awe-struck. Like true Indians, neither of them asked for an
explanation of the wonder, but accepted in good faith the solemn
statement of Mr. Creighton and the Fort Laramie operator, that the
telegraph was the instrument of the Manitou, “the Great Spirit,” his
organ of speech, his voice upon the earth. To wind up the demonstration,
each chief was told that the other wished to see him at a point midway
between the forts. The invitation was obeyed as if it had been a direct
order from the Manitou. ->

The
chiefs started off on horses furnished by the superintendent, and after a
journey of 250 miles, met. Here they “compared notes,” and found there
was no mistake about the “pow-wow” that they had held a week before, 500
miles apart. This clinched the impression that Mr. Creighton had sought to
make. The marvellous story of the telegraph was soon told among all the
tribes; and, from that time to this, posts and wires, stations, instruments,
batteries and everything pertaining thereunto–but operators–were sacred
in their eyes. Even the operators would be repeated, it is believed, if they
stood on their dignity with the pole of a battery in each hand. Being but
human, they run away. On their return, they always find Indians’
“trail” in and about the station, but everything undisturbed.

It
is hoped that, in the progress of civilization, the Indians will not find
out the secret of the telegraph. When they do, they will make sad havoc all
along the overland route before they can be put down.–N.
Y. Jour. of Com.

•••••

In
Idaho nothing goes as a circulating medium but gold dust. Every man carries
his little buckskin pouch, and, nomatter what his purchase is, he pays for
it in the precious legal tender of the realm, which is weighed on scales
kept for the purpose, whether the article bought be a cigar, a drink of
whiskey or something of more utility or value.

•••••

The
bathing at the English watering places is rather shocking to delicate
tastes; but neither the Englishman or woman is at all squeamish. The only
bathing dress of the female Bull is her chemise, and of the male the
smallest of drawers. The London Times
is trying to inveigle the bathers into the adoption of the French and
American bathing costumes, but reforms are slow in Britain.

•••••

The
Times thinks the Tammany Hall picture of Gen. McClellan appears
“like the outline of an enraptured chip-munk.” We were not aware that
the Presidential candidates were to be placed before the people on the
merits of their personal appearance; but if that is to be an “issue,”
the Lincoln party may as well give up the contest and save their money.–N.
Y. World.

•••••

Sherman
has taken Atlanta. Thank God. Now, if Lincoln will permit Grant to take
Richmond, we will see that McClellan, the hero, moves down upon Washington.
With Hood in the hands of Sherman, Lee and Davis in the hands of Grant, and
the widow maker in the hands of McClellan as agent for the people, peace
will soon smile on this Abolition-cursed land again. Nine cheers for
Sherman; nine more for Little Mac, the second George!–La
Crosse Democrat.

FRIDAYSEPTEMBER 16,
1864THE
CALEDONIAN (VT)

Treatment
of Prisoners.

Four
representatives of the Union soldiers now prisoners of war to the rebels
and concentrated at Anderson, Georgia, have just proceeded to Washington
to state their condition to the Government, and see if some measures
cannot be instituted for their speedy exchange. In their memorial, our
soldiers state:

“Col.
Hill, Provost Marshal General, Confederate States Army, at Atlanta,
stated to one of the undersigned that there were thirty-five thousand
prisoner at Andersonville, and by all accounts from the United States
soldier who have been confined there, the number is not overstated by
him. These thirty-five thousand are confined in a field of some thirty
acres, enclosed by a board fence, heavily guarded. About one-third have
various kinds of indifferent shelter, but upwards of thirty thousand are
wholly without shelter, or even shade, of any kind, and are exposed to
the storms and rains which are of daily occurrence; the cold dews of the
night and the more terrible effects of the sun striking with almost
tropical fierceness upon their unprotected heads. This mass of men
jostle and crowd each other up and down the limits of their enclosure,
in storm or sun, and others lie down upon the pitiless earth at night,
with no other covering than the clothing upon their backs, few of them
even having a blanket.

“Upon
entering the prison every man is deliberately stripped of money and
other property; and as no clothing or blankets are ever supplied to
their prisoners by the rebel authorities, the condition of the apparel
of the soldiers just from an active campaign can be easily imagined.
Thousands are without pants or coats, and hundreds without even a little
pair of drawers to cover their nakedness.

“To
these men, as indeed to all prisoners, there is issued three-quarters of
a pound of bread or meal, and one-eighth of a pound of meat per day.
This s the entire ration, and upon it the prisoner must live or die. The
meal is often unsifted and sour, and the meat such as in the North is
consigned to the soap-maker. Such are the rations upon which Union
soldiers are fed by the rebel authorities, and by which they are barely
holding on to life. But to starvation and exposure to sun and storm, add
the sickness which prevails to a most alarming and terrible extent. On
an average, one hundred die daily. It is impossible that any Union
soldier should know all the facts pertaining to this terrible mortality,
as they are not paraded by the rebel authorities. Such statement as the
following speaks eloquent testimony: ‘Of twelve of us who were
captured, six died; four are in the hospital, and I never expect to see
them again. There are but two of us left.’ In 1862, at Montgomery,
Alabama, under far more favorable circumstances, the prisoners being
protected by sheds, from one hundred and fifty to two hundred grew sick
from diarrhea and chills, out of seven hundred. The same per centage
would give seven thousand sick at Andersonville. It needs no comment, no
efforts at word-painting, to make such a picture stand out boldly in
most horrible colors.

“Nor
is this all. Among the ill-fated of the many who have suffered
amputation in consequence of injuries received before capture, sent from
rebel hospitals before their wounds were healed, there are eloquent
witnesses of the barbarities of which they are victims. If to these
facts is added this, that nothing more demoralizes soldiers and develops
the evil passions of man than starvation, the terrible condition of the
Union prisoners at Andersonville can be readily imagined. They are fast
losing hope, and becoming utterly reckless of life. Numbers. Crazed by
their sufferings, wander about in a state of idiocy; others deliberately
cross the ‘dead line,’ and are remorselessly shot down.”

Leach’s
Perpetual Motion.

Our
readers will recollect some notice taken in these columns about a year
since f a small machine exhibited through the country, which its
inventor claimed to contain the principle of self-motion, or perpetual
movement. The machine was a metallic wheel with a system of cords and
falling balls suspended to the arms of the wheel, which was supported on
a thick base of wood. It turns out the whole affair is a very ingenious
deception. The base or platform contains a system of clock-work, with a
spring running up to the axis through one of the standards supporting
the wheel. When wound up it would run some twelve hours.

The
inventor of this wonderful perpetual motion is said to have made quite a
sum by humbugging persons and then imparting the secret. Of course
parties who have invested are anxious to get their money back by sale or
exhibition, and have had a motive in keeping his secret.

We
hear of two very respectable and highly moral gentlemen of Sherbrooke
who havesmall interest in
the affair. The exposure of the cheat was made by an honest German
pedlar, who proposes to bring the matter before the court.–Stanstead
Journal.

•••••

Good
Advice from a Woman.–“You write that you are going to
Washington, so I know you’ll see ‘Old Abe.’ Now, don’t you find
any fault with him. I know your impatient disposition–I know you think
he ought to have done a great deal more than he has done. But, remember,
that he has an untried way, difficulties all about him, conservatives
advising one thing, radicals another, and all deceiving him. So, don’t
you find any fault with him, but bid him ‘God speed,’ Tell him that
all good men and women, everywhere, are with him–that they pray for
him, and bless him for what he has done, and will yet do. One word from
a man he knows has nothing to ask for, may cheer him–cheer him more
than you know–and don’t you fail to say it. As you love truth, and
God, say it, for it is true, and you ought to say it.”

That
was a year ago, but what that young woman then said might as
well–might better–be said now by every man and woman in the
country.–Edmund Kirke.

•••••

The
innate ferocity and want of faith of the rebels is shown in the
unblushing story of the Richmond Sentinel
that three hundred of our men who, relying upon a “tacit truce,”
were airing themselves in front of their works, were brutally massacred
by an unexpected volley of musketry. The excuse given for this chivalrous
act was the bombardment of Petersburg, a rebel depot of supplies.
“Delicious piece of retaliation,” this act of perfidy is called the
the ferocious Richmond Examiner.

SATURDAYSEPTEMBER 17, 1864THE
ÆGIS AND TRANSCRIPT (MA)

General Sherman’s Official Report of the
Capture of Atlanta.

Louisville,
Sept. 8.–In answer to the request that Major General Sherman would
give us details of late operations before Atlanta, in order to satisfy
cavils of those who in absence of particulars were denying that those
operations were on the whole a federal success, we have received the
following:

Atlanta,
Sept. 7.–On the 25th of August, pursuant to a plan of which the war
department had been fully advised, I left the 20th corps at
Chattahoochee Bridge and with the balance of the army I drew off from
the siege, and using some considerable artifice to mislead the enemy, I
moved rapidly south, and reached West point railroad, near Fairsborn, on
the 27th, and broke up 11 miles of it.

When
moving last my right approached the Macon railroad, near Jonesboro, and
my left near Rough and Ready. The enemy attacked the right wing of the
army and was completely beaten.

On
the 31st, and during the combat, I pushed left of the centre rapidly to
the railroad above, between Rough and Ready and Jonesboro.

On
the 1st of September we broke up about 8 miles of the Macon railroad,
and turned on the enemy at Jonesboro, assaulted his lines and carried
them, capturing Brig. Gen. Gorman and about 2000 prisoners, with 8 guns
and much plunder. Night alone prevented the capture of all of Hardee’s
corps, which escaped south that night.

That
same night, Hood in Atlanta, finding all his railroads broken and in our
possession, blew up his ammunition trains and 7 locomotives and 80 cars,
and evacuated Atlanta, which on the next day, Sept. 2d, was occupied by
the corps left for that purpose, Gen. Slocum commanding, we following
the retreating rebel army to near Lovejoy’s station, 30 miles south of
Atlanta, where, finding them strongly entrenched, concluded it would not
pay to assault as we already had the great object of the campaign, viz:
Atlanta. Accordingly the army orderly and leisurely retired to Atlanta,
and it is now encamped 8 miles south of the city, and to-morrow will
move to camps appointed. I am writing at Atlanta, so do not be uneasy in
regard to our situation. We have a the result of this quick, and as I
think, well-executed movement, over three thousand prisoners, and have
buried over 400 rebel dead and got as many wounded, which they could not
remove. The rebels lost, besides the important city of Atlanta and
stores, at least 500 dead, 2500 wounded, and 3000 prisoners, whereas our
aggregate loss does not foot up 1500. If this is not success, I don’t
know what is.

W.
T. Sherman, Maj. Gen.

•••••

Army
Stores.–None except those who have been connected with a
quartermaster’s department in the army can have but a limited idea of
the vast amount of clothing, equipage and military stores dealt out to
the Union armies. Capt. H. B. Blood, Assistant Quartermaster in charge
of the clothing, equipage and quartermaster’s stores of the armies
operating against Richmond, being on a few days’ furlough, made us a
brief call on Monday last, and among many interesting matters, showed us
his last report ending June 30th, 1864, from which we were permitted to
make the following extract of stores issued during the months of April,
May and June: 18,042 pairs of boots; 114,188 pairs of bootees; 22,254
rubber blankets; 58,605 sack coats; 65,423 pairs of drawers; 249,931
pairs of stockings; 87,334 pairs of trousers; 62,931 haversacks; 3248
shelter tents. Among the entrenching tools issued, we find 17,250 axes;
12,425 spades and shovels, and 6674 picks.->

Capt.
Blood is a son of Mr. John Blood of Charlton. He has been connected with
the quartermaster’s department of the Potomac army since April 1862,
and is the right man at the right place. His report is made up with a
system easy to comprehend and in detail an interesting document. He says
that the department to which he belongs is a perfect self-operating
machine, always at the point where needed in time to meet the wants of
our brave men in the field with full stores.–Palladium.

The
Limerick docks were visited on Saturday by a considerable number of
persons who went to see a newly arrived paddle steamer, named the Condor, built by Randolph & Co., of Glasgow, chartered by our
enterprising and respected fellow-citizen, Peter Taft, Esq., for the
conveyance of clothes manufactured at his Boherbuoy factory, and said to
be intended for the American Confederate service. This vessel, which is
of light draught and elegant construction, is of low rakish build, very
long, narrow in the beam, and furnished with three low funnels, and two
short masts. She shows no guns. Her horse power, though nominally only
180, can be worked three times that amount–and from her rig and build
she appears just the craft for running the blockade, 25 knots an hour
having been made on her trial trip. She left at two o’clock, showing
the English colors, for a destination, of course, not specified, but
probably for Nassau.

•••••

From Havana

New
York, Sept. 9.–Dates from Havana of the 26th are received which
report the recapture of Victoria from the French by Cortinas confirmed.
The French were put to flight with heavy loss. Cortinas announced to the
soldiers that he would soon lead them against Tampico and would be
reinforced by Huastican.

Capt.
Mendoga ambushed a party of imperialists, killing 66, capturing 27, also
115 rifles and 73 horses. The yellow fever is making considerable havoc
in Havana.

The
steamer Francis, lately from
Philadelphia, has been sold for 20,000 pounds. She is to be fitted up
for blockade running.

Capt.
Bickford and mate, and others of the bark C.
B. Hamilton, have died at Havana of yellow fever.

•••••

Headquarters,
Army of the Potomac,
Sept. 8th, Evening

The
past two days have been ominously quiet. Hours have passed without a
single gun being heard. The rebels were reported massing on our left
with the intention of attacking us if they found the lines penetrable,
but they have evidently given up the enterprise which they have found
very costly. At the centre of the line, pickets have been very friendly
of late, but within a day or two strict orders have been given against
any intercourse. The battery on the Jerusalem road opened on a working
party of rebels this afternoon about 5 o’clock. Quite an interchange
of iron compliments took place, but without much harm to either party.